Drainage Tips For Homeowners
Grading of your property must be the first step before any landscape items can be installed. So make sure that you and your landscaper or drainage contractor have a clear understanding of how your property is going to be graded in order to direct storm runoff away from your property.
Sadly, most homeowners are left footing the bill of often several thousand dollars, so make sure that the job is done properly the first time.
Signs of water intrusion and damage
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Cracks in the plaster of your walls
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Cracking, sinking, or sagging with concrete walks or driveways
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Cracked floor tiles or the heaving of wooden flooring
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Doors or windows that do not open or close properly
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Water damage to baseboards or plaster
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Mold growing on plaster and baseboards
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Cracks on the inside slab beneath carpets
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Exterior privacy and perimeter walls cracking or generally falling apart
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Sloping floors
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Visible water in or under the slab
If you should see any of these signs you must start by identifying the source of the water in order to resolve the problem.
Checklist
In order to maintain the overall structural integrity of your house, long after you close on escrow, just remember that the proper planning and maintenance of the grading, pool, and landscaping are your responsibility. I recommend homeowners take the following preventative measures. During or after a rainstorm identify any standing water areas close to your home’s foundation. Make sure that drainage goes away from your foundation and not towards it.
Never over-water plants that are close to your foundation, patios, or fence walls. Care must be taken when adding either a pool or landscaping to ensure any mounding or grade changes direct water away from the house and are in accordance with the general grading plans of the home site.
If you are looking for a drainage contractor based in the Gaithersburg, MD area, please do not hesitate to call Kapa Plumbing & Drainage Service today at (240) 203-7967 to make an appointment with me.
